By Angie Rolheiser

NCHCF gets boost from two local donations

Jan 10, 2019 | 8:05 AM

Two generous donations were made to the North Central Health Care Foundations(NCHCF) digital imaging equipment campaign at the Melfort hospital on Jan. 9.
 
One of the donations was made possible through a new project in the city over the Christmas holidays. Over $6,000 was brought in through a silver collection at the Christmas Castle at the historic post office.
 
Dr. Yemi Laosebikan and his wife Foluke spearheaded the Christmas castle project that saw around 3,114 take the tour of the light display that aimed to bring life and light to the community.
 
“It was more than we expected it turned out and we had people from all the provinces surrounding us as far as B.C. and Ontario and international visitors from the U.S., Japan, Australia and the U.K.,” Yemi said.
 
Foluke said the funds were just the bonus for them.
 
“It brought out a communal spirit, we were able to see how giving and community minded people were,” Foluke said. “It created a place for people to gather together too during the Christmas season so there were a lot of positives.”
 
There is a demand for the project to come back again in the coming years and the Laosebikans said they will be looking to the community and numerous volunteers for help in setting up again when the time comes.
 
The Eastern Star Melfort chapter also made a donation of $1,260 to the foundation.

Worthy Matron, Florence Bott said many fundraisers contributed to making the funds possible including a barbecue at the Co-op, a chase the ace supper, a stew supper at Diefenbaker and a bake sale.
 
Bott also purchased a quilt to raffle off which brought in around an additional $400.
 
The group does a yearly project where they choose a recipient in the community for funds.
 
“We chose the digital diagnostic equipment as our project because it is so worthwhile to have right in our hometown that we don’t have to go to the city for some of these things that we can have right here,” Bott said.
 
NCHCF chair Peggy George said both donations were a surprise to the board.
 
“It’s so wonderful to know that  the community is out there and supporting us and thinking about us and trying to raise funds for us,” George said.
 
The digital diagnostic imaging equipment campaign is very close to wrapping up after these two donations as well as two other cheques presented before the new year.
 
Ag Com provided $8,000 and the SaskTel Pioneers gave $3,000.
 
George said that they had a immense amount of support in 2018. She cited donations from the Star City Elks, the Tim Horton’s smile cookie campaign, and the RCMP golf tournament.
 
Members of the foundation board will meet next week to get an official total and then go over the wish list that has already come in for their next needed pieces of equipment.
 

angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: Angie_Rolheiser